Spring in Geneva

The days are getting longer, the temperature is gradually rising and spring is definitely in the air! It is the opportunity to get a breath of fresh air and spend some time doing different activities:

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Discover Geneva by bike

Hop on a bike and explore Geneva and its surroundings! When planning your route, the City of Geneva suggests a number of circuits on the cycle circuits page. You can also rediscover the city with its original lighting by means of the cultural and guided tours organised free of charge as part of the samedis du vélo. And if you have yet to find your faithful mount, don’t worry: with the arrival of spring, the bike loan season starts in April! Genèveroule bike loan arcades or cabins can be found in les Pâquis, Plainpalais, Montbrillant, la Terrassière on Place du Rhône and on Place des Nations.

Get your fill of sport in the great outdoors

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Open-air gyms

No need to lock yourself away in a gym any more if you feel like doing a little sport! With the Proxisport urban fitness installations in different parks around the city, a Proxitraining sport circuit in Beaulieu, a range of fitness trails and Urban training circuits, make the most of the green areas in your districts, free of charge!

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Races between the city and the countryside

There’s nothing like the fine weather to get (back) in training for a road race or two! For racing enthusiasts, several races are organised in the Canton. They also can train on one of the numerous outdoor tracks in the lush settings of the different Geneva sports centres.

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Bring out the tennis rackets

It's time to enjoy the nice weather and to take out your racket! The Vessy Sports Center and the Bois-des-Frères Sports Center have opened their tennis courts for the public, to play in singles or doubles.

Come and applaud the talented competitors at the Gonet Geneva Open. This most important tennis tournament in western Switzerland is held from 20 to 27 May 2023 at the Geneva Eaux-Vives Tennis Club and has already hosted players of the caliber of Rodger Federer, Stan Wawrinka, Alexander Zverev or Grigor Dimitrov.

Take a walk between heritage and Mother Nature

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Circuits combining a pleasant stroll and new discoveries

Spring is the ideal season to enjoy a walk! A series of walking guides offer you the chance to follow themed circuits to discover former estates that have been transformed into public parks, emblematic constructions and rare or remarkable trees, or to follow the course of the River Arve. Following the cultural trails explore the districts and their museums, monuments and public works of art or discover historical anecdotes.

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If you go down in the woods today …

It is the ideal opportunity to fill up on chlorophyll with a stroll in the woods in the Bois-de-la-Bâtie. In its animal park, your family can make the acquaintance of miniature goats, Mangalitza pigs and other species of animal, some of which are threatened with extinction.

Back to basics and the earth

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Urban vegetable gardens and local varieties

Create your own vegetable garden in your garden or on your balcony! Several associations, supported by the City of Geneva through its Feed the City programme, provide courses on how to prepare your seeds or plants, and even let you use locally sourced varieties. Tomatoes from Chancy, purple artichokes from Plainpalais or Swiss chards from Geneva are all varieties you can find on the organic plant market held every Thursday and Saturday from April to June at les artichauts, the greenhouses in the Parc de Beaulieu.

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A world of colour with the parks in bloom

With the arrival of spring, the parks burst into a thousand colours. Don’t miss the spectacular flowering of the rhododendrons and azaleas, their scents and shimmering colours guaranteed to enchant your senses. These bushes can be found in particular at the bottom of the Parc des Eaux-Vives or in the Parc Moynier.

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The gardener’s visit at the CJB

Come and discover the secrets of the gardeners at the Botanical Garden thanks to free guided visits, every Thursday from March to October, at the Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques. These visits offer an ideal chance to explore the collections of this living museum through renewed themes, accompanied by the botanical horticulturist.

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Green workshops for children

The green workshops of the Botanical Garden offer children aged 6 to 13 the chance to discover the world of plants and animals. Carnivorous plants, molecular biology experiments or animals that are friends of plants: there are numerous opportunities to observe and learn! For kids (6-9) and juniors (10-13), on Wednesday afternoons from 2 p.m. to 4.30 p.m., registration required, CHF 12 per workshop. 

Playing in the parks, courtyards and streets

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The ‘ludobuses’ come to meet you

From May to September, two ludobuses visit the districts of Geneva and come to meet you. You can discover all types of games to borrow and many more suitable for outdoor activities. Laughter and sharing are guaranteed with these itinerant ‘ludothèques' suitable for all ages and absolutely free of charge!

Major events during the spring

• The European Artistic Craft Days held from 31 March to 2 April 2023 offer you the chance to discover the know-how of the people working in the cultural institutions of Geneva;
• The International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights (FIFDH) held in March is an open platform for anyone committed to defending human values throughout the world;
• La Fête des voisins is the chance for neighbours to enjoy a convivial moment together the 2 June 2023;
• La Nuit des musées held on 13 May 2023 offers the general public the chance to explore the museums of Geneva through an original programme of night-time events;
• La semaine du livre petite enfance et familles allows young children to discover the world of books through a series of activities organised in May.